The gamma phi beta was founded by Syracruse University in 1875, and it comes under the category of an international college sorority. Moreover, it was the first among Greek universities to gain international sorority among the various sorority colleges.
Let us take a look into the joining process or the pledge process step by step.
1. Pledging
a. Academic Requirement – Freshers should have a cumulative score of 2.8 out of 4 in high school for becoming eligible for application. Other students should have a cumulative score of 2.4 in their university or college grade score out of 4. However, there are few exceptions but that too only after the approval of the chapter coordinator. Hence, collegiate chapters need to set a minimum score of 3.0 for freshers to qualify along with taking into account of all the average of all the women for qualification.
b. Eligibility – The eligibility criteria for all women is that they should not be holding any member of an existing National Palhellenic Conference, or should not belong to any sorority.
c. Pledging Ceremony – A colony or a collegiate can carry out a pledging ceremony if the need arises, although it is not mandatory. Besides this, the pledging ceremony must be carried out under the supervision of one initiated member.
2. Initiation
a. Approval
i. Collegiate – Candidates should submit their initiation week activities along with the initiation plans through Beta Base before the start of the initiation week. Apart from this, a person should meet all the financial and beta requirements are met before the initiation process.
ii. Alumnae Initiates – The entire approval decision-making rests upon the local alumnae chapter, alumnae Vice President along the initiating collegiate chapter. However, only the active collegiate chapter alumnae initiates can be initiated.
b. Allowed Initiations – There is a provision of only a single initiation ceremony in every regular term. Although, this is dependent upon the chapter’s regional coordinator.
c. Membership Certificates – Every initiate will receive a membership certificate from International Headquarters upon completing the payment of membership fees, signing of Loyalty Pledge, and badge fee.
d. Badges – Every initiate needs to purchase the badge from the Sorority during the initiation process. This will be the symbol of her membership. Moreover, the initiation badge is the sole property of the Sorority. However, the member can take a leasehold during the initiation process.